Highlights
- •The motion-captured, computer-generated avatars engaged in several motions that are typically feared by those with chronic low back pain.
- •These avatars were seen as realistic by both individuals with chronic low back pain and physical therapists.
- •Participants in the study were successfully able to create a hierarchy of fears by ranking the behaviors performed by the avatars.
- •Initial reliability and validity of the virtual human assessment was established.
Abstract
Previous studies have not examined the assessment of chronic low back pain (CLBP)
and pain-related anxiety from a fear avoidance model through the use of motion-capture
software and virtual human technologies. The aim of this study was to develop and
assess the psychometric properties of an interactive, technologically based hierarchy
that can be used to assess patients with pain and pain-related anxiety. We enrolled
30 licensed physical therapists and 30 participants with CLBP. Participants rated
21 video clips of a 3-D animated character (avatar) engaging in activities that are
typically feared by patients with CLBP. The results of the study indicate that physical
therapists found the virtual hierarchy clips acceptable and depicted realistic patient
experiences. Most participants with CLBP reported at least 1 video clip as being sufficiently
anxiety-provoking for use clinically. Therefore, this study suggests a hierarchy of
fears can be created out of 21 virtual patient video clips paving the way for future
clinical use in patients with CLBP.
Perspective
This report describes the development of a computer-based virtual patient system for
the assessment of back pain-related fear and anxiety. Results show that people with
back pain as well as physical therapists found the avatar to be realistic, and the
depictions of behavior anxiety- and fear-provoking.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 31, 2016
Accepted:
April 30,
2016
Received in revised form:
April 4,
2016
Received:
December 3,
2015
Footnotes
This project was supported by funds from the Center for Pain Research and Behavioral Health at the University of Florida.
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 by the American Pain Society
